AL AIN, AL WASL AND AL JAZEERA REPRESENT THE UAE IN THE ARAB CLUB CHAMPIONS CUP
The United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEAF) has announced the participation of Al Ain, Al Wasl and Al Jazira clubs in the Arab Club Champions Cup in its new edition organized by the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) scheduled to be launched in August 2018. The championship will be held with the participation of 32 teams representing the biggest and strongest clubs in the Arab World.
The announcement was made at the press conference held on Thursday 5th April 2018 at the UAEAF headquarters located in Zayed Sports City. The conference was attended by H.E. Abdullah Nasser Al Junaibi, Vice President of UAEFA and Chairman of the Professional League Committee, H.E. Talal Al Al Sheikh, Advisor to the President of UAFA and Director of the Arab Club Champions Cup, H.E. Dr. Khalifa Al Ghafli, Member of the Board of Directors of UAFA, H.E. Abdul Mohsen Al Dosari, Assistant Secretary General for Sports Affairs at the General Authority for Sport, H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Hazzam Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the UAEFA, Deputy Secretary General of UAFA, along with representatives of clubs including: Representative of Al Ain Club Sultan Rashid, Sports Director, Mohammed Al Ameri, Executive Director of Al Wasl Club and Ayed Mabkhout, Executive Director of Al Jazira Club.
H.E. Abdullah Nasser Al Junaibi, Vice President of UAEFA and Chairman of the Professional League Committee inaugurated the press conference delivering a welcome speech. He congratulated H.E. Mr. Turki Al Al Sheikh on his election as President of the UAFA wishing him and the Board of Directors all the best wishes of success to develop the Arab football sector. The General Assembly of the UAFA and all its members for their keenness to develop the Arab football competitions and bring them to again to the arena and the scene of the world of football. He stated that the evidence of the return of the Arab football could be realized in organizing the Arab Club Champions Cup kicked off for the first time in 1980 with the participation of three clubs only. He underscored that the championship is gaining more attention and care that led to have 32 clubs onboard this year from various Arab clubs.
Al Junaibi added: “We are pleased to announce the participation of three Emirati clubs in the 2018 edition, namely: Al Ain, Al Wasel and Al Jazira. I would like express my thanks and appreciation for the three club’s management for their prompt response to our invitation and their approval to be part of this year’s edition.”
“The participation of our clubs comes in the light of our continuous and unremitting efforts to implement the vision of our wise leadership who is always keen to further boost the bonds of friendship and love among the Arab youth in all fields, especially the sports field,” Al Junaibi stressed.
Shedding the light on the gains of being part of this championship, he said: “It is an opportunity for our youth to meet with their brothers from other Arab clubs and exchange experiences and knowledge, in addition to technical advantages which be gained through friction with different football schools. This definitely helps in developing the level of players and offer them new windows of additional experiences.”
Al Junaibi concluded his speech by saying: “I would like to avail this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the UAFA and all its committees for organizing the championship and wish all participating clubs success. I would like also to express my appreciation to the sponsors and the various means of media for their continuous support for the championship.”
Talal Al Al Sheikh, Advisor to the President of the UAFA, delivered a speech in which he expressed his thanks for the rapid response of the UAEFA and the management boards of Al Ain, Al Wasl and Al Jazira to participate in the tournament. He stressed: “UAFA goal is to prove our ability in the Arab region to organize strong and great championships, especially in light of the large financial prizes allocated for the participating teams in the championship. The winner of the title will receive $ 6 million, in addition to the awarding of financial prizes to all participating teams according to their qualification for the different stages of the championship.”
Al Al Shaikh announced that the championship will be held with the participation of 32 teams in this new version, which will be played as per the system of groups and then knockout stages. He stated: “The draw the 32-team round in mid or late April maximum. The first leg matches of 32-team round will be held during late August and the second leg matches will be held in December. The final round will be held in April 2019.”
H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Hazzam Al Dhahiri, Secretary General of the UAEFA and H.E. Talal Al Al Sheikh, Advisor to the President of the UAFA, signed the agreement with the representatives of Al Ain, Al Wasl and Al Jazira clubs respectively
Following the ceremony of signing the agreements, H.E. Abdullah Nasser Al Junaibi, Vice President of UAEFA and Chairman of the Professional League Committee, presented H.E. Talal Al Al Sheikh, Advisor to the President of the UEFA, to the Union of Arab Football Associations for organizing this championship.
For his part, H.E. Mohammed Abdullah Hazzam Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of the UAEFA, hailed the efforts of the President and members of the UAFA and their keenness to organize the Arab Club Champions Cup with a new look and with greater participation compared to previous versions. He pointed out: “UAEFA is keen to participate in this championship that attracts the focus and attention of the Arab spectators and fans of football for the presence of elite clubs that will fight and compete to win the dearest title.”
The Secretary General of UAEFA underscored: “The advantages of the participation of Al Ain, Al Wasl and Al Jazira clubs will be great for both the championship and the clubs in view of the large grassroots base at the local and Arab levels. We have also not to forget the technical advantages as the teams will play against different Arab schools from the Asian and African continents. Indeed, the players’ experience will boost the technical level of all teams.”
Bin Hazzam expressed his admiration of the technical level of the championship in its last edition held in the Arab Republic of Egypt and witnessed the presence of massive numbers of fans and remarkable media coverage. He stressed that the current championship in its new system will witness a qualitative leap in terms of public attendance and media attention.
